Billy Joel Criticism
Billy Joel, born William Martin Joel in 1949, is an American songwriter renowned for his vivid portrayals of urban and suburban life. His breakout hit, "Piano Man," draws from his own experiences as a lounge singer in Los Angeles and paints a poignant picture of the patrons he encountered, who embody unfulfilled dreams. This song, along with many others, showcases Joel's ability to create characters with depth and empathy, a skill that has been both praised and critiqued by scholars such as Jack Breschard and Peter Reilly.
Joel's work often reflects a sense of despair, tempered by a dry, ironic humor. His narratives are frequently charged with anger, urging listeners to confront personal and social challenges. His 1977 album The Stranger marked a significant point in his career, with critics noting the album's honest exploration of themes such as leaving home and the complexities of everyday life, as highlighted by Ray Coleman and Susan Elliott.
Moving beyond suburban confines, The Nylon Curtain features tracks like "Goodnight Saigon" and "Allentown," addressing broader social issues like the Vietnam War and economic decline in Pennsylvania's steel industry. These songs are acclaimed for their unflinching portrayal of working-class struggles, delivered without resorting to sentimentality or melodrama, as observed by critics such as Stephen Holden and John Milward. Joel's ability to capture the complexities of human experience has cemented his reputation as a significant figure in American music, blending sharp social observations with compelling storytelling.
Contents
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Piano Man
(summary)
In the following essay, Jack Breschard critiques Billy Joel's "Piano Man" for its serious and flexible musical style, noting Joel's keen ability to portray others, yet argues that the album's introspection lacks depth, as Joel struggles to illuminate his own character while maintaining enthusiasm and musical straightforwardness.
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Piano Man
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In the following review, Peter Reilly praises Billy Joel's album "Piano Man" for its standout title track but notes a need for greater variety in orchestration and lyrical focus across the album's other songs.
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Stephen Holden
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In the following essay, Stephen Holden argues that Billy Joel's album "Streetlife Serenade" lacks depth and originality, criticizing its derivative style and superficial lyrics while highlighting the contrast between its uninspired tracks and the more compelling albeit shallow works from "Piano Man."
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Streetlife Serenade
(summary)
In the following essay, Fred DeVan evaluates Billy Joel's album "Streetlife Serenade," arguing that it demonstrates Joel's maturation as a songwriter and musician, with tracks like "The Entertainer" and "Streetlife Serenade" showcasing a refined balance of personal reflection and musical texture.
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'Streetlife Serenade': The Cold Eye and Warm Heart of Bill Joel
(summary)
In the following essay, Peter Reilly argues that Streetlife Serenade showcases Billy Joel's "dark brilliance" through wry, savage, yet compassionate songs that critique contemporary society, marking him as a gifted eccentric essential for the current musical landscape.
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Streetlife Serenade
(summary)
In the following essay, Colin Irwin critiques Billy Joel's Streetlife Serenade as lacking the compelling elements of "Piano Man," suggesting that while songs like "Streetlife Serenader" and "The Entertainer" stand out, the album overall suffers from moroseness and self-indulgence.
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School of Art: 'Turnstiles'
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In the following essay, Robert Cowan critiques Billy Joel's album "Turnstiles," arguing that while it contains moments of potential, such as the standout track "New York State Of Mind," it generally falls short in its attempt to emulate Bruce Springsteen due to clumsy lyrics and lackluster vocal delivery.
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Turnstiles
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In the following essay, Pam Brown critiques Billy Joel's album Turnstiles, arguing that while Joel exhibits a natural talent for poetic lyrics, his work suffers from a lack of imagination, pessimism, and self-pity, ultimately questioning the sincerity and direction of his artistic and commercial endeavors.
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Billy Joel: Too Tough-Minded?
(summary)
In the following essay, Peter Reilly argues that Billy Joel's album "Turnstiles" provides an insightful, albeit somber, reflection on the disillusionment of the 1970s middle-class youth, marked by a bitterness and introspective wisdom similar to Dylanesque influences, yet it remains neither accessible to its intended young audience nor appealing to older skeptics.
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The Stranger
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In the following essay, Ray Coleman argues that Billy Joel's album "The Stranger" showcases his originality and poetic strength, highlighting his razor-sharp social commentary and fearless lyrical style, which positions him as a singer-songwriter of exceptional talent.
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Susan Elliott
(summary)
In the following essay, Susan Elliott asserts that Billy Joel's album "The Stranger" marks a stylistic peak and challenges easy categorization, moving beyond the "suburban" label with sophisticated lyrical and musical exploration, exemplified in tracks like "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)."
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Billy Joel: Looking Back
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In the following essay, Peter Reilly examines Billy Joel's album "The Stranger," highlighting its authenticity and insight into Italian-American nostalgia and youthful experiences through vivid storytelling, while noting some shortcomings in its ambition and the emotional depth achieved through Joel's intense performance.
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Billy & Bish: Love or Money?
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In the following essay, Don Shewey critiques Billy Joel's album 52nd Street, arguing that while Joel's work reflects arrogance and superficiality, it paradoxically yields moments of genuine emotional impact, exemplified by the song "Until the Night," which captures a tension between pretension and artistic accomplishment.
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Billy Joel, Rock Star
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In the following essay, Susan Elliott discusses Billy Joel's album "52nd Street," highlighting its seasoned sound, the artistic confidence and musical exploration it exhibits, and the diverse style Joel achieves, praising the album's creative richness and the influence of producer Phil Ramone.
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Billy Joel: Strong Stuff
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In the following essay, Reilly argues that Billy Joel's album "52nd Street" showcases his unique ability to depict genuine humanity and humor in his music, contrasting with his contemporaries, and highlights Joel's talent for creating meaningful pop music without succumbing to clichés or current trends.
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Billy Joel: A Personal File
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In the following essay, Peter Gambaccini evaluates Billy Joel's early albums, highlighting both the nascent potential and accomplished storytelling found in songs like "Piano Man" and "The Ballad of Billy The Kid" while critiquing the lack of depth in some tracks, ultimately portraying Joel's development as a musician and lyricist.
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Schmaltz House
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In the following essay, Colin Irwin critiques Billy Joel's album "Glass Houses" for its calculated aggression and tendency towards self-seriousness, arguing that Joel is most effective when employing humor and self-mockery, though the album's predictable elements and occasional schmaltz hinder its potential.
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Billy Joel Knows How to Pose
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In the following essay, Don Shewey argues that Billy Joel's album Glass Houses represents a departure from his previous work by offering a fun, cohesive homage to rock 'n' roll's greats, showcasing Joel's ability to blend catchy compositions with his rock-star persona while acknowledging the album's imperfections and derivative nature.
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Billy Joel's Songs for Swingin' Lovers
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In the following essay, Paul Nelson critiques Billy Joel's album Glass Houses for its perceived insincerity and egotism, arguing that Joel's persona as a "lovable loony" and his depiction of rock & roll as a platform for braggadocio ultimately result in a work that is confused and unconvincing.
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Billy Joel's 'Glass Houses': Beyond Category
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In the following essay, Peter Reilly argues that Billy Joel's album "Glass Houses" showcases his unique songwriting talents, diverging from prior expectations and establishing Joel as a prominent American songwriter with distinctively sharp and often humorous vignettes, marking a significant and promising moment in his musical career.
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Billy Joel Retraces His Halting Early Steps
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In the following essay, Timothy White examines Billy Joel's Songs in the Attic, highlighting how Joel's vigor and defiant style elevate the album beyond a simple retrospective, showcasing his evolution from a struggling artist to a creator of musical standards while maintaining his distinctive and provocative artistry.
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Billy Joel's Brutally Frank, Aurally Ambitious Pop Masterpiece
(summary)
In the following essay, Stephen Holden argues that Billy Joel's album The Nylon Curtain represents a significant artistic advancement, combining stark social commentary and emotional depth, with "Goodnight Saigon" serving as a poignant musical epitaph to the Vietnam War and showcasing Joel's evolved lyrical and musical sophistication.
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The Nylon Curtain
(summary)
In the following essay, John Milward argues that Billy Joel's album "The Nylon Curtain" presents a compelling blend of empathetic storytelling and polished studio craftsmanship, with standout tracks like "Allentown" and "Pressure" exploring themes of economic despair and personal struggle, albeit with mixed success in his attempts at capturing more distant experiences.
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Billy Joel
(summary)
In the following essay, Steven Simels critiques Billy Joel's album "The Nylon Curtain" for its cryptic and overambitious songwriting, while praising the tracks "Pressure" and "Allentown" for their incisive social commentary and rock-and-roll sensibility, contrasting them with the era's bland musical mainstream.